Watson sees off Pliskova to progress Down Under
HEATHER WATSON scored a repeat victory over Kristyna Pliskova as she put her difficult quarantine experience behind her to progress at the Australian Open today in Melbourne.
The British number two was one of the 72 players who had to stay in their hotel rooms for 14 days and she admitted it was the worst preparation she has ever had for a grand slam.
But Watson looked impressively sharp considering and, no doubt boosted by the memory of having beaten Pliskova at the same stage last year, she edged to a 7-6 (4) 7-6 (3) victory.
'It made the victory today sweeter because we’d been through a lot the last few weeks,' said Watson.
'It was really tough mentally I would say the most. Physically I felt like I did a pretty good job in hard quarantine of working out pretty much every day and trying to keep up my fitness with what I could do.
'I think today I could see it on my coach’s face as well, he was extra proud.'
